women health
Friday, January 14, 2011
women health
Importance of Women's Health “A woman's health is her total well-being, not determined solely by biological factors and reproduction, but also by effects of work load, nutrition, stress, war and migration, among others” (van der Kwaak, 1991).1 | ||||
Women's health issues have attained higher international visibility and renewed political commitment in recent decades. While targeted policies and programs have enabled women to lead healthier lives, significant gender-based health disparities remain in many countries. With limited access to education or employment, high illiteracy rates and increasing poverty levels are making health improvements for women exceedingly difficult. Health-related challenges continue. Many of the modest gains in women's health realized in recent decades are now threatened or have been reversed due to war, economic instability and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Basic health care, family planning and obstetric services are essential for women – yet they remain unavailable to millions. Gender-equitable approaches to health are needed to enable women's full participation in the planning and delivery of health services. The health of families and communities are tied to the health of women – the illness or death of a woman has serious and far-reaching consequences for the health of her children, family and community. The slogan, “Healthy Women, Healthy World” embodies the fact that as custodians of family health, women play a critical role in maintaining the health and well being of their communities.2
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1 | van der Kwaak A, et al. 1991. Women and health. Vena Journal 3(1):2-33. |
2 | United Nations Population Division. State of the world population 2005: the promise of equality: gender equity, reproductive health and the Millennium Development Goals. New York: UNFPA. Available from: www.unfpa.org/swp/2005/pdf/en_swp05.pdf |
3 | World Health Organization. WHO global burden of disease (GBD) 2002 estimates (revised). Available from: www.who.int/healthinfo/bodestimates/en/ |
4 | World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank. 2007. Maternal mortality in 2005. Available from: www.who.int/whosis/mme_2005.pdf |
5 | Nanda G, Switlick K, Lule E. 2005. Accelerating progress towards achieving the MDG to improve maternal health. World Bank. Available from here. |
6 | United Nations Population Division. Surviving childbirth, but enduring chronic ill-health. (accessed August 16, 2007), Available from: www.endfistula.org/q_a.htm |
7 | UNAIDS, World Health Organization. 2007. AIDS epidemic update. Available from: http://data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf |
8 | United Nations. 1995. Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994. New York. |
9 | United Nations. 2007. Millennium Development Goals report. Available from: www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf |
10 | United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2008. Flow of financial resources for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Po |
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